This file is part of the following reference: Ritchie, Euan (2007) The ecology and conservation of the antilopine wallaroo (Macropus antilopinus). PhD thesis, James Cook University. Access to this file is available from: http://eprints.jcu.edu.au/4777 The ecology and conservation of the antilopine wallaroo (Macropus antilopinus) Thesis submitted by Euan Gowar Ritchie BSc (Hons) James Cook University in March 2007 for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the School of Marine and Tropical Biology James Cook University Top – Dry season, Mornington Sanctuary, Kimberley region, Western Australia.© E. Ritchie Centre – Large male (left) and adult female (right) antilopine wallaroos (Macropus antilopinus). © D. Webb Bottom – Wet season storm, Undara National Park, Einasleigh Uplands region, Queensland. ©E. Ritchie This thesis is dedicated to my late father Michael ELECTRONIC COPY I, the undersigned, the author of this work, declare that the electronic copy of this thesis provided to the James Cook University Library, is an accurate copy of the print thesis submitted, within the limits of the technology available. _______________________________ _______________ Signature Date i Statement of Access I, the undersigned, author of this thesis, understand that James Cook University will make this thesis available for use within the University library and, via the Australian Digital Theses network, for use elsewhere. I understand that, as an unpublished work, a thesis has significant protection under the Copyright Act and I do not wish to place any further restriction on access to this work. ------------------------- ------------------ (Signature) (Date) ii Statement of Sources Declaration I declare that this thesis is my own work and has not been submitted in any form for another degree or diploma at any university or other institution of tertiary education. Information derived from the published or unpublished work of others has been acknowledged in the text and a list of references is given. ------------------------- ------------------ (Signature) (Date) iii Statement on the contribution of others Emily Bolitho (a collaborator) assisted with bioclimatic modelling and the production of distribution maps (Chapter 5). Dr. Mark Eldridge (a collaborator) assisted with the analysis of molecular data (Chapter 6). C.S.I.R.O (Davies laboratory) provided laboratory space and the use of equipment (Chapters 2 and 4). Declaration on Ethics The research presented and reported in this thesis was conducted within the guidelines for research ethics outlined in the National Statement on Ethics Conduct in Research Involving Human (1999), the Joint NHMRC/AVCC Statement and Guidelines on Research Practice (1997), the James Cook University Policy on Experimentation Ethics. Standard Practices and Guidelines (2001), and the James Cook University Statement and Guidelines on Research Practice (2001). The proposed research methodology received clearance from the James Cook University Experimentation Ethics Review Committee (approval number A814). ------------------------- ------------------ (Signature) (Date) ------------------------- ------------------ (Name) (Date) iv Preface Publications arising from this thesis: Chapter 2 - (in review) Large herbivore distribution and abundance in the tropics: intra- and inter-specific niche variation across species' ranges, Euan G. Ritchie, Jennifer K. Martin, Andrew K. Krockenberger, Stephen Garnett and Christopher N. Johnson, Ecological Monographs. Chapter 3 - (in review) The socio-ecology of large marsupial herbivores in Australia’s tropical savannas, Euan G. Ritchie, Austral Ecology. Chapter 4 - (submitted) Sexual segregation in a tropical marsupial: links between reproductive biology, social behaviour and rainfall seasonality, Euan G. Ritchie, Jennifer K. Martin, Peter C.G. Fossan and Christopher N. Johnson, Austral Ecology. Chapter 5 - (in review) Climate change and the distribution of large, wide ranging herbivores: severe range contractions and the extinction of Australia’s tropical macropods? Euan G. Ritchie and Elizabeth E. Bolitho, Austral Ecology. Appendix 1 - (2005) An extension to the known range of the eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) on Cape York Peninsula, Euan G. Ritchie, Australian Mammalogy 27:225-226. Appendix 2 - (in review) The effect of an extensive, late, dry season fire on the abundance of three sympatric large macropod species in Undara volcanic national park, northern Australia, Euan G. Ritchie, Australian Mammalogy. v Acknowledgements I would like to thank my supervisors Chris Johnson, Stephen Garnett and Andrew Krockenberger for their encouragement and guidance throughout my PhD. I still vividly remember the day while working as a research assistant for Chris that he told me that a fully-funded project existed to study the ecology of the antilopine wallaroo across northern Australia, but that he had no student for the project! It was an amazing opportunity and one for which I will always be grateful. Embarrassingly at that time, I didn’t even know antilopine wallaroos existed. Chris, I have always been inspired by your intellect and I feel very fortunate to have had such a long association with you. Andrew, many thanks for your humour, knowledge of all things that hop and ideas that have helped to shape my study. Stephen, I know you’d rather this project had been on birds. Nonetheless mammals are ok right? Many thanks for sharing your vast expertise of northern Australia, particularly regarding Cape York and fire. Living so far away from home (~3000 km) is never easy. Mum, without your love and support I wouldn’t be in this position in the first place, so thanks for fostering my interest in nature so many years ago and participating in my collection of road kills and trips to stagnant frog ponds. Dad, thank you for your inspiration and for your excitement about my project earlier on. I only wish that you could share in this achievement and I hope that were you still here today, you would be proud. Prim, thanks for being such a loving sister. Many thanks to my other family: Angus, Sue, Rob, Michael and Jenny Martin. You have helped me in so many ways. Angus, without your constant scientific insights, judicious use of the pencil and mastery of all things grammatical, the quality of this thesis would be greatly diminished. Sue, thank you for the countless meals, good humour, and simply for being mum number two. Rob and Mike, thanks for your encouragement and support throughout. The Australian Mammal Society has much to answer for, but I’m so glad it introduced me to Jenny Martin. Jen, life has been, and continues to be amazing since July 9, 2003. I have so much to thank you for: picking up roo poo, measuring blades of grass in 40 degree plus heat, sharing countless burgers and true brews (quite nice!) vi along the corrugated roads of the north, card games and limericks under the stars, spotlighting adventures at Iron Range, acting as the driver for much of the 150,000 km of surveys, generally sharing in the joys of Australia’s tropical savannas, assisting with preparing this thesis, but above all else, for your continuing love and friendship. A PhD is indeed an emotional rollercoaster, so thanks for keeping me on the track! Many thanks to my collaborators Emily Bolitho and Mark Eldridge who assisted with chapters 5 and 6. Your input has greatly added to this thesis and it is great that science brings people together. This study was conducted at a monumental scale, and as such there is a multitude of people to thank for access to study sites, logistical support and the generous hospitality that is characteristic of this region. The following list is in no apparent order. Many thanks to the traditional owners for allowing me access to Kakadu National Park and sites within Cape York; the many owners of cattle stations across northern Australia, particularly Doug and Mary Buchanan of Rocky Springs for many meals, laughs and for teaching me about grass, Sue and Tom Shepherd of Artemis (it’s nice to be able to see golden-shouldered parrots while doing a survey), Gloria and the late John Armbrust of Orchid Creek (I’ll never forget the ultra-light flight over part of the Mcllwraith Range); Australian Wildlife Conservancy, particularly Steve Murphy and Sarah Legge for facilitating the work on Mornington Sanctuary; Department of Environment and Conservation (Western Australia), Parks and Wildlife Service (Northern Territory), Kakadu National Park and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, especially Merv Shaw and Jack Brogert of Undara National Park, Lana Little of Chillagoe-Mungana Caves National Park and Greg and Liza Craig of Lakefield National Park; Owen Davies of Pungalina, Abbie and Taffy of Mt. Hart, Tony Tiplady at Comalco Weipa and Mary at the Georgetown Caravan Park. During my PhD I had the fortunate opportunity to have discussions with many experienced people about my project and northern Australia in general, which greatly aided with the development of ideas in my thesis. Thanks to Marco Festo-Bianchet, Justin Billing, Emily Bolitho, Scott Burnett, Peter Clark, David Coates, Graeme vii Coulson, Ross Coventry, David Croft, Gay Crowley, Robyn Delaney, Andrew Edwards, Mark Eldridge, Fred Ford, Chris Gardiner, Brett Goodman, Tony Griffiths, Mary Haginikitas, Bill Foley, Robert Fox, Iain Gordon, Jo Isaac, Peter Jarman, Peter Johnson, Pieter Johnson, Mike Kearney, Alex Kutt, Jill Landsberg, John Ludwig, Kevin Lunde, Angus Martin, Jenny Martin, Greg Miles, Kingsley Miller, Ben Moore,